Ver Sacrum

Bojano - Between history and legend, the 'Ver Sacrum' is the event that most symbolizes the city of Bojano. The festival of 'holy spring' is staged every year, making adults and children enthusiastic. The commemoration refers to the sacred rite of sending groups of young people following sacred oxen, to found new civilizations. It is a scenic representation based on the information handed down by Greek and Latin writers and by recent studies of archeology and philology.

The performance is divided into 4 acts. In the first, the rite of abandoning young people from their homeland to search for new territories to be conquered is staged, in the second act the rite of marriage is praised, which is important for the Samnites. In the third act the old sage is represented who, despite the pain of losing his son in battle, encourages young people to the virtue of conquest while in the fourth and last act the ancient rite of the curse is represented, which consisted in cursing oneself and one's lineage if had not fought vigorously in battle. The event, like every year, was organized and promoted by the 'Ver Sacrum' committee, with the support of the municipality of Matese and with the collaboration of the associations present in the area. This year the representation had to deal with the current pandemic but despite this the demonstration not only took place but was seen as a good omen to start living again.